Health departments within the North Georgia Health District will soon conduct Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics. There is no easier way to protect against the flu because the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are specially designed to process people quickly and conveniently as they remain in their vehicles.
The drive-by clinics will also be an opportunity for North Georgia Health District health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties to test their ability to quickly administer medications to the public in a widespread public health crisis, such as pandemic influenza. Therefore, residents who receive a flu shot at their local drive-by clinic will not only find the experience to be fast and efficient, but they also will be assisting in a mass emergency preparedness drill for their county.
Additionally, the new Fluzone High-Dose Influenza Vaccine for people 65 years of age and older, will be offered at the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics in Cherokee, Gilmer and Whitfield Counties. For more information on the high-dose influenza vaccine, log onto http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_fluzone.htm.
Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic dates, times and locations are as follows:
- Cherokee – Friday, October 7, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Cherokee County Administrative Building & Northside Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton
- Fannin – Wednesday, September 28, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., The Farmers Market, East First Street, Blue Ridge
- Gilmer – Tuesday, September 20, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Ellijay, 75 McCutchen St, Ellijay
- Murray – Tuesday, September 27, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Murray Recreation Center, 651 Hyden Tyler Rd. Chatsworth
- Pickens - Tuesday, October 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1036 North Main Street, Jasper
- Whitfield - Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Whitfield County Health Department, 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton
The regular flu shot will cost $20 and the Fluzone High-Dose flu shot will be $52.
According to the CDC, roughly one-fifth of the US population is infected with the flu virus each year. Having the flu can lead to serious complications and death. Annually, an estimated 200,000 people require hospitalization and approximately 36,000 die from flurelated illness.
The best protection against influenza is a flu shot.
For more information about the upcoming Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics or about influenza and its prevention, please contact your local county health department.
Also, look for the North Georgia Health District on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest public health information in north Georgia.